MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- In a Marine Corps first, Marine Air Support Squadron 3, Marine Air Control Group 38, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, hosted the U.S. Army’s three-week Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer Course. The course brought together ten U.S. Soldiers and four U.S. Marines at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 8 to 26, 2024.
ADAFCOs fill a critical role within the U.S. Army’s MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile system, responsible for tactical decision-making and management across multiple Patriot battalions. The course is designed to teach and develop the necessary skills to integrate joint air and missile defense. MACG-38 is building this capability across its units. Two Marines with MASS-3, a Marine with 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion and a Marine with 3rd Littoral Anti-Air Battalion attended.
Participants engaged in in-depth training on mission analysis, advanced battle management, command and control, and joint air and missile defense operations through theoretical and practical exercises. Joint coordination for air defense is a growing priority for both services, who share air defense command responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific theater. Meeting the National Defense Strategy’s focus on the need to strengthen deterrence against China requires flexibility and interoperability.
As part of Force Design, the Marine Corps is increasing its ability to conduct distributed maritime operations, remaining forward and mobile in contested operating spaces but with the challenge of operating for extended periods with limited support. The Marine Corps is addressing the need for an organic air defense capability by re-introducing short to medium range air and missile defense capabilities into service through the Marine Air Defense Integrated System, Light-Marine Air Defense Integrated System and Medium Range Intercept Capability.
“Force Design identified for the Marine Corps what the professional aviation command and control community already understood—to be prepared for the future fight, we need to reorganize and reprioritize to optimize our ability to control fires across domains thus far marginalized,” said Lt. Col. Tyrone Anub Jr., commanding officer of MASS-3.
“The Littoral Anti-Air Battalions will integrate MRIC, the first organic surface to air missile system since HAWK was divested in the 1990s,” said Capt. Gabriel Smith, an air defense officer with MASS-3. “As the Marine Corps looks to incorporate our own organic system, it’s important that we look to the joint services for procedures, training, tactics and techniques for how to best and most effectively use that system.”
Though the MADIS and MRIC are different weapon systems than the Army’s Patriot, there are similar employment considerations including friendly asset protection and threat evaluation. As the Marine Corps fields air defense systems, MACG-38 is training Marines to serve as sector air defense commanders, integrating air defense systems in support of joint operations. The ADAFCO Course was part of this initiative.
Each ADAFCO Course typically includes one non-Army service member, but joint service participation is increasing.
In May 2024, the Air National Guard hosted an ADAFCO Course for the first time at the Western Air Defense Sector on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
“I bring the materials and knowledge, and we integrate with someone that can host us,” said Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jesus Arellano, the ADAFCO course manager with 2nd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 30th Air Defense Brigade. “This course is a benefit to not only to the Marines, but also to us for our heavy involvement in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Nicholas J. Cruz, the previous commanding officer of MASS-3, efforts were made to modernize the MASS-3 Battle Lab to be capable of simulating the Patriot system and assimilation architecture. The Battle Lab provides a training venue for Marine air command and control system training and allowed MASS-3 Marines to host the ADAFCO Course. The advanced simulation technologies used during the training provided a realistic environment for participants, enabling them to practice decision-making under pressure.
“What the Marines gained from this course is an ability to take this knowledge back to our units and train Marines on Army air defense capabilities,” said Maj. John Christensen, the MASS-3 operations officer. “Providing an advanced level of understanding of the planning and integration considerations for ADAFCOs who routinely sit on our crews.”
As the Marine Corps evolves to face future conflicts, the Marines of MASS-3 are adapting—training with joint partners to provide scalable, agile air command and control and air defense. The ADAFCO Course enhanced participant readiness and strengthened the partnership between the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, ensuring that both services are better prepared for the future fight.
“The importance of this training to the joint force and to the Marine Corps cannot be overstated," Anub said. “Every missile needs to count— and every second does count. The skillset acquired by our officers from our compatriots in the Army will be critical in the coming years. We were honored to host the course here and hope to make this a repeating event, further solidifying the habitual and traditional relationship between Air C2 agencies and air defense artillery.”